Movie notes

Some random thoughts, post-Bond, with another slew of holiday movies bearing down on us:

Since prison rape is such a tried-and-true formula for a successful comedy, I was shocked  shocked!  to discover yesterday that Larry Ratliff didn’t like “Let’s Go to Prison.” The alleged comedy that wasn’t screened for critics received a paltry 1 1/2 jalapeños. In the Poetic Justice Dept., it also tanked at the box office (unlike other no-shows such as “Saw III,” which won its debut weekend).

A funny thing, this thing called perspective. “Happy Feet” edged out “Casino Royale” in last weekend’s box office race, $41.5 to $40.8 million. Yet the take for the animated flick was considered so-so (holiday animated films are supposed to be gold mines, although the animated-film competition has been unusually fierce this year), while the Bond box office shows the franchise remains robust despite a new 007.

Potentially the most adventurous film booking for the holiday season is “Shortbus,” tentatively scheduled to open in San Antonio Dec. 8 after debuting in a few markets in October. The film from John Cameron Mitchell (“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) is “the most unexpectedly honest and moving American feature film about 9/11 yet,” wrote Jim Emerson, who edits Roger Ebert’s Web site.

But don’t confuse it with “United 93” or “World Trade Center.” Pointing out that it takes place “entirely in a fantasy post-9/11 New York City,” Emerson writes that it features “a lot people (who) engage in a lot of sex for a lot of reasons.” He adds that cast members “were chosen for their willingness to open up and engage in on-camera sex of every stripe.”

There’s more, but he says it better than I could. Read the full review here.

A highly regarded film that has played hide-and-seek with S.A. audiences looks like it won’t get here until 2007. “The Last King of Scotland,” which had some tentative fall opening dates, is now set for Jan. 19  presumably after it has earned significant awards-season buzz. The film about a Scottish doctor who becomes personal physician to murderous Ugandan dictator Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker) debuted to much acclaim  mainly for Whitaker’s performance  in September at the Telluride and Toronto film festivals.

The upside is, openings of limited-release films is what makes January tolerable for S.A. film buffs. Sure beats “Hostel 2.”